Exercising and relaxing apparatus



June 20, 1967 E. MANDL 3,326,209

EXERCISING AND RELAXING APPARATUS Filed Jan 29, 1964 Til-:GE- T5.::.E-

4 zo/voxas Wyn/04 5y #TTORNEYJ' United States Patent 3,326,209 EXERCISING AND RELAXING APPARATUS Eleonora Mandl, 4263 Santa Rita Road, El Sohrante, Calif. 94803 Filed Jan. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 340,909 7 Claims. (Cl. 128--33) This invention relates generally to body exercising and relaxing apparatus for providing multidirectional massaging effects, and more particularly is directed to a structure of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,936,754.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing multidirectional movement similar to that disclosed in the above patent for accomplishing the various physiological benefits also described therein, and which has an improved mechanism that eliminates the complex linkages of the prior structure thus enabling more economic mass production and providing greater durability in use.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view illustrating an apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional front view taken along the plane of line 22 in FIGURE 1, depicting the structure of FIGURE 1 at a different phase of its movement.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional side elevation. view similar to FIGURE 1, with the structure being shown at still another phase of its movement.

Describing the invention now in broad terms, there is provided a supporting structure 11 having a platform 12 mounted for movement thereon. Drive means such as a motor 13 is mounted on the structure 11 and is coupled through the novel cam and linkage means of the invention to provide a multidirectional oscillating movement of the platform 12. The multidirectional movement of the platform 12 includes a component of rotary reciprocal or oscillating pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, in addition to a rotary reciprocal or oscillating rocking movement relative to a substantially horizontally disposed axis. Hereinafter, these movements will be referred to respectively as oscillating pivotal and oscillating rocking movements.

Considering the illustrated embodiment of the invention in greater detail, the supporting structure 11 is seen to include a pair of spaced vertical frame members 14 each having an upper cross member 16 and a lower cross member 17. The spaced frame members 14 are secured rigidly together by means of a pair of upper connecting members 18 and a pair of diagonally extending connecting members 19.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, a generally horizontally disposed shaft 21 is mounted on the structure 11, and a pair of bearings 22 are provided on the upper cross members 16 to journal the shaft 21 for rotation about its axis. One end 23 of the shaft 21 extends beyond the corresponding frame member 14, and has a pulley wheel 24 secured thereto. As indicated in FIGURE 1, the motor 13 has its drive shaft 25 provided with a drive pulley wheel 26, and a drive belt 27 connects the pulley wheels 24 and 26 to complete the means provided for driving the shaft 21.

Cam means are mounted on the shaft 21 for rotation therewith and engage a portion of the platform 12 for providing the above described multidirectional movement "ice thereof. In particular, a generally cylindrical cam member is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 21 with the axis of the cylinder disposed in angularly intersecting relation to the axis of the shaft 21. The platform 12 includes a pair of spaced platform support members 29 and 31 respectively having bearings 32 and 33 to journal the cam member 28 for rotation relative to the platform about the cylindrical axis of the cam member.

A guide member 34 is connected to the platform 12 by connecting means 36 for allowing rotational movement. Guide means 37 are provided to constrain the movement of the guide member 34 within a generally vertically disposed plane containing the axis of the shaft 23.

As more particularly regards the universal connecting means 36, a pivot member 38 is pivotally secured between the support members 29 by a pivot shaft 39. The pivot member 38 is thus seen to be adapted for pivotal movement about an axis disposed in parallel relation to the axis of the cylindrical cam member 28. A pivotal stub shaft 41 connects the guide member 34 to the pivot member 38 for relative pivotal movement about an axis disposed perpendicularly to the pivot shaft 39, thus completing the pivotal and rotational connection between the guide member 34 and the platform 12.

With respect to guide means 37, the illustrated embodiment includes a horizontally disposed rail member 42 extending between the spaced lower cross member 17 and disposed vertically below the shaft 21 in spaced parallel relation therewith. The guide member 34 is provided with a pair of spaced members 43 and 44, preferably rollers, disposed respectively on opposite sides of the rail 42. In this manner, the guide member 34 is constrained against transverse movement relative to the rail 42, but is free to oscillate in a vertical plane extending through the shaft 21 and rail 42.

The aforesaid multidirectional oscillating movement of the platform 12 is provided by continuous rotation of the shaft 21 by the motor 13. As the eccentrically mounted cam member 28 moves with the shaft 21 to which it is secured, one component of oscillatory movement of the platform 12 is depicted by the change of the platform position shown in FIGURE 1 to its position shown in FIGURE 3, this change is effected by of rotation of the shaft 21, and may be described as a rock ing component of movement relative to a horizontal axis disposed transversely to the axis of the shaft 21. The second component of oscillatory movement of the platform 12 can be understood by referring to the position shown in FIGURE 2 of the cam member 28 with respect to the shaft 21. It will be seen that at the side of the apparatus visible in FIGURE 2, the bulk of the cam is on the left of the shaft 21. Conversely, because of the eccentricity of the cam member, at the other side of the apparatus the bulk of the cam will be on the right of the shaft 21. When the shaft is rotated through 180, the relative position of the cam and shaft at each end will be reversed. That is, the bulk of the cam at the end shown will be at the right of the shaft while at the opposite side the bulk will be on the left. Then upon another 180 rotation of the shaft, the cam member will return to the position shown in FIGURE 2. It will thus be appreciated that the cam reciprocally rotates about a vertical axis as the shaft rotates. In turn, the cam member pivots platform 12 in an oscillatory manner about a substantially vertical axis. Both substantially orthogonal components of pivotal movement of the platform 12 are superimposed on one another, to provide the multidirectional massaging effect of the instant invention.

The present invention as contrasted with the apparatus disclosed in the above patent enables the multidirectional movement to be accomplished by in effect only two moving parts other than the platform itself and the cam member. These two parts are the pivot member 38, which is pivotally connected to the platform, and the guide member 34 which is pivotally mounted to the member 38. Thus it is apparent that the present invention as embodied in the illustrated apparatus enables a construction of relatively little complexity, thus enabling its manufacture at a lower cost than prior similar devices.

What is claimed is:

1. Body exercising and relaxing apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a substantially horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said structure and journalled for rotation about its axis, means for rotating said shaft, a platform mounted for movement relative to said structure and having cam engaging means, cam means provided on said shaft for rotation therewith in engagement with. said cam engaging means and upon rotation of said shaft providing oscillating pivotal movement of said platform relative to a substantially vertical axis and oscillating rocking movement relative to a substantially horizontal axis, connecting means between said platform and said support structure for permitting said pivotal movement relative to a substantially vertical axis, a guide member connected to said platform, and means for constraining said guide member to oscillating movement in a substantially vertical plane disposed through said shaft axis.

2. Body exercising and relaxing apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a substantially horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said structure and journalled for rotation about its axis, means for rotating said shaft, a pair of axially spaced cam surfaces provided on said shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of cam actuated platform support members disposed in engagement with said surfaces for movement in response to rotation thereof with said shaft, a platform rigidly secured to said members, means connecting said platform to said supporting structure permitting oscillating pivotal movement of said platform relative to a substantially vertical axis, a guide member connected to said platform, and means for constraining said guide member to oscillating movement in a substantially vertical plane disposed through said shaft axis, said cam surfaces being adapted to provide oscillating pivotal movement of said platform relative to a substantially vertical axis and oscillating rocking movement relative to a substantially horizontal axis.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said cam surfaces are defined by the surface of a cylinder having its axis disposed at an angle to the axis of said shaft, and wherein said cam surfaces are journalled for rotation relative to said members about the axis of said shaft.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said constraining means includes an elongated member mounted on said supporting structure and spaced vertically below said shaft in parallel relation therewith, and wherein said guide member includes a pair of laterally spaced members disposed on opposite sides of said elongated member for restricting said guide member against movement transverse to said elongated member.

5. Body exercising and relaxing apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a shaft mounted on said structure and journalled for rotation about its axis, means for rotating said shaft, a platform mounted for movement relative to said structure, a cam member secured to said shaft for rotation therewith and journalled for rotation through a portion of said platform, said cam member upon rotation of said shaft; providing oscillating pivotal movement of said platform relative to a substantially vertical axis and oscillating rocking movement thereof relative to a substantially horizontal axis, connecting means secured to a portion of said platform for permitting said pivotal movement relative to a substantially vertical axis; a guide member connected to said platform, and means for constraining said guide member to oscillating movement in a single plane normal to said horizontal axis.

6. Body exercising and relaxing apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a substantially horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said structure and journalled for rotation about its axis, means for rotating said shaft, a platform mounted for movement relative to said support structure, cam means secured to said shaft for rotation therewith and journalled for rotation through a portion of said platform, said cam means upon rotation of said shaft providing oscillating pivotal movement of said platform relative to a substantially vertical axis and oscillating rocking movement thereof relative to a substantially horizontal axis, and means connecting said platform to said support structure permitting said pivotal movement and said rocking movement.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cam means is defined by the surface of a cylinder mounted upon said shaft with its axis angularly intersecting the axis of said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,250 6/ 1938 Koschwitz 12825 2,206,902 7/1940 Kost l2825 2,936,754 5/1960 Mandi et al. 12833 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner. 

6. BODY EXERCISING AND RELAXING APPARATUS OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SHAFT MOUNTED ON SAID STRUCTURE AND JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT, A PLATFORM MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, CAM MEANS SECURED TO SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION THROUGH A PORTION OF SAID PLATFORM, SAID CAM MEANS UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT PROVIDING OSCILLATING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATFORM RELATIVE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS AND OSCILLATING ROCKING MOVEMENT THEREOF RELATIVE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID PLATFORM TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE PERMITTING SAID PIVOTAL MOVEMENT AND SAID ROCKING MOVEMENT. 